Pressure-control valve



Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,469

' T. J. STEINKELLER PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE Elled'Nov. lO, 1920 3 sheets-sheet l WITNESS ATTORNEYS Mar. 13, i923. 1,448,469

T. J. STENKELLERv PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE Filed Nov. 1o, 1920 5 sheets-sheet 2 mar. 13,1923. 1,448,449 l T. J. STEINKELLER y PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE F11ed Nov. 1o, 1920 5 sheets-sheet s 'd ATTORNEYS Patented Mar., i3, E23.

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PRESSURCONTROZ VALVE.

ApplicationledNovember 10, 1920. SerialrNo. 423,056.

1/ o all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that l, rllneiras J. STE-initier.- Ln z, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Berkeley, county ot Alameda, and State or California, h ave invented a new and useful Pressure-Control Valve, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to air brake apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a valve for automatically control ling,` the pressure in the brake cylinder of an air brake system, so that the pressure in the brake cylinder duringthe operation of the` train cannot tall below a predetermined sate pressure. lilith the standard air brake equipment now in use, the air .in the auxiliary reservoi1 which is normally maintained. at a pressure of *.70 to 90 pounds is the entire pressure available for cont-rolling the brakes ot the train, except as the auxiliary reservoir pressure is increased or the reservoir fully recharged during permissible or sate releasing ot the brakes. Since the auxiliary reservoir cannot be recharged in normal operation except when the brakes are. oil or releasing, it 'tollows that extraordinary precautions by the engineer are necessary to see that the auxiliary reservoir is fully charged at the top or every-grade, and that everyopportunity is taken advantage of on level stretches and curves to release the brakes and recharge the reservoir as fully as possible to masimum pressure. ercising` the greatest ot care, can the skillful engineer s0 conserve vthe auxiliary reservoir 'pressure as to retain control of his train and avoid disaster. @n long,` and didi cult grades, manually operated retaining valves are used, the brakemen setting' up the retaining` valve on each car as needed. My present invention comprises: anautomatic retaining` valve. Assuming that pounds is rsate pressure that is, sumcient fully to control the train, my valve, for vpressure above that amount, is inactive; the triple valve operating in the usual way to admit and discharge air to and from the brake f-ylinder in accordance withvvariations of pressure in the train line eii'ected bythe engine driver. auxiliary reservoir alle to 50 pounds my `falve functions to prevent further reduction and to trap brake cylinder. The brakes are then held on with 50 pounds pressure, and cannot -be re- Only by ex- 1When the pressure in the v.

the air at that pressure in the4 leased until the auxiliary reservoir pressure. has risenabove that amount. lV-ith the brakes so held, the .engineer mayy recharge the auxiliaries vwithout permitting.acceleration of the train speed; or, it for any reason the auxiliaries cannot bev recharged, a full stop isY forced, so that the trouble can `belocated and remedied. Primarily then my valve is a safety appliance of. the first magnitude, since it eliminates any possibility of loss; of control of thev train irrespective ofthe en.` gineers handlingcf the air.

About 15%.0 the steamv .generated in the. boiler of' the. locomotiver is .used by theV air pump, and it will be readily appreciated that the conservation*ofthe air effected. by my valve is readily expressed in terms .of tuel saved. rlhus, secondarily,.my valve is a measure. oli` economy, and'this is true, not only on account of thesubstantial quantities of iuel saved, but because its use renders unnecessary certain other apparatus, such as retainer valves, and .the emergency reservoirs. and related mechanism found necessary on passenger equipment.

Another object ot the invention is tosprovidel a deviceuof'the character described including a bleed valve which is manually opened to disci-arge the brake cylinder, but 'which is automatically closed when the air is turnedyinto the train line toI charge the auxiliaries.

Another object ofthe. invention is to, provide a device compri'sing` automatic retainer and bleed valves included withina housing ot such character that itmay readily be in'- terposed in standard equipment between the triple valve and the auxiliary reservoir,l

without material kchanges and at little ex- 'features ot' advantage some oiwhich, with the foregoing, will beset forth'in the following` description of the preferred .form of my invention which `is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part or" the specification. lft is understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said .drawings and description, as l may adopt variations et thel preferredv form within the scope oti'ny invention as set forth in the claims;v

Referring. to the drawings.:

.Figure l isa side elevation. of the. group ot air brake apparatus with which my valve is assembled-and directly associated- Fig.

' v2 is aplan View `largely in section showing my valve andr portions of the auxiliary res ervoir and triple valve. Fig. 3 is an elevation of my valve, largely inl section. Figs. y2 and 3 vshow the parts in the" position assumed when the auxiliary reservoir; pres-.iv

` inder.

-My pressure control valve comprises a housing` 2 so tormed'as to adapt it for insertion between the triple valve 3 and the auxiliary reservoir 4 of standard air' brake equipment. A passage 6 in the housing alined with passages 7 and 3 in the triple valve and auxiliary reservoir respectively preserves communication between the two. Connected with this passagey by passage 9 is a pressure chamber 11, ot which one side is formed by the flexible diaphragm 12. `The diaphragm is thus [subjected at all times to auxiliary reservoir pressure. On the opposite side of the diaphragm and opposing the auxiliary .reservoir pressure isa stud 13 pressed against the 'diaphragm by the coil spring 14. The tension ot the spring is p regulated by the cup nut 16 which also providesabearing for the stud, 'and which is threadedl into the annular casing 17 which surrounds the stud and spring. A cap 18 vcloses the casing and provides a lock nut for the cup nut.

Separating ythe pressure chamber from the chamber 19 is the wall 21 in which is arranged a valve stem 22 having a head 23 pressed against the diaphragm by the spring 24. The valvey 23 controls the. passage 26 connecting the chambers 11 and 19. On the same valve stempis a valve head 27 for controlling passage 28 which connects chamber 19 with the open air. The spring 24 ltendsto hold the valve 23 open and the valve `the diaphragm presses against the stud, and

the valve 23 is held open and the valve 27 closed by the spring 24, all as shown in Fig. 2^. With a lessening of auxiliary reservoir pressure to 50 poundsyfthe diaphragm presy sure: is overbalanced by the pressure of the spring 14, and the valve 23 isclosed and the valve 427 opened, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus,

it is seen that the position .of the double valve 23-27 and the closed or open condition of the passages 26 and 28 are determined by the auxiliary reservoir pressure.

Formed in the housing 2 to one side oi' the central passage is a passage 31 alined with and connecting the passage 32 in thebralre cylinder pipe leading to the brake cylinderV 33 with the passage 34 in the triple valve. A valve 36, normally closed by spring 37 is arranged in the passage 31to permit air from the triple valve 'to flow to thev brake cylinder, but to prevent the return iiow tov the triple valve thru the passage 31.

On the reservoir side of the valve 36, the passage 31 is connected by passage 38 with the vcylindrical chamber 39, in which the pis-ton valve41 is slidably disposed. @n the triple'valveside of the valve 36, the passage 31 is connected by passage 42 with the chamber 39. lThe piston valve comprises a light cylindrical shell-formed with the par tition wall 43. The wall of the piston valve is formed with a series of circum'ferentially arranged apertures 44, one of which will register with the opening into the passage' 42 when the piston valve is in its extreme position at the right as shown iny Fig. 3,

thus providing a by-pass around the valve 36. rlhe cross section of the passage 42 is less than that of passage 38 so that in the passage of air thru the by-pass, a pressure builds up in the chamber 39,'tending to move the piston valve to the left to close the passage 42, as shown in Fig. 5. On the opposite side of the piston valve, the chamber 39 1s connected by passage 46. with the chamber 19.

From the above it willbe clear that so long as the auxiliary reservoir pressure ex-y ceeds the minimum. safe pressure of, say 50 pounds, the .stud 13 is heldy on its seat by .the diaphragm 12, and the valve 23 is open to permit the air under auxiliary'reservoir pressure 'to pass into lchamber 19, and thence thru passage 46 to chamber 39, pressing the piston'valve to itsV extreme position against the far wall of the 'chamber as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the by-pass about the valve 36 thru lpassage 42 is open, and the triple valve is'free to v.function in the usualy way. Upon reduction in the train line pres'- sure, air from the auxiliary reservoir passes thru the triple valve into passage 31, past valve36, then into passage 32 and thence to the brake cylinder. Upon increase in the train line pressure, the air in the brake cylinder returns to the triple valve thru the bypass 42 and is exhausted into the air, the by-pass being kept open by the superior auxiliary reservoir pressure exerted against the left side (Fig. 3) of' the piston valve. It

however, thru successive reductions in the train line pressure, the pressurein the vauxiliary reservoir lfalls to the lower limit of safe pressures, (assumed to be 50 pounds) the lowered pressure on the diaphragm per# mitsthe spring 14 to close valve 23 and open valve 27. The air in chamber 19 and the connected portionof chamber 39v then exhausts into the air thru passage 2,8, re.- leasing all pressure against the Vleft side of the piston valve.- Sincethe passage v42 is of less capacity than the passage l38, the piston vvalve will immediately move to the left, covering passage 42, and preventing further escape of air from the brake cylinder, such pressure remaining at vsubstan- It is therefore `not Within the power of the engineer to fritter away his air until the auxiliary pressure available is insuiiicientL 'to control his train. The personal equasion.

is removed, and a safe pressure suflicientfor the full control of the train is. insured, or the train is automatically. stopped to'compel attention.

When the cars of a train are separated for any cause, the brakes are automatically set, and before any subsequent movement of the cars can take place, the brakesmust be released by .exhausting or bleeding the air from the brake cylinder and, auxiliary reservoir. It has been customary therefore to place a bleeder valve on each auxiliary reservoir to be opened and-held open by one of the train crew until the air Was exhausted suficiently to. permit the brakes to.

be released. ln my present pressure control valve, I include a bleedvalve adapted to be quickly opened by abrakeman as he.

passes rapidly along the side of the train. The 'valve then remains open to permit the air to exhaust from the brakecylinder and.

auxiliary reservoir. When the cars are again made up into trains, the rise .of pressure in the train line eEects the automatic closing of each bleed valve, so that the auxiliaries may be recharged. Thus a very .large saving in time and labor is aecomplished, and added safety and efficiency secured.

. Formed in the housing 2 is a cylindrical chamber 5l, connected near one end (right of Fig. 3) with passage 3l by the passage 52. The end of the chamber 5l is closed by the screur plug 53, thru which passages 54 extend so that the end of the chamber is in thechamber 5l. Astem 59 on the piston l valveextends thruthe plug'r58 and. is adaptedto beengaged bytheV lever 6l pivoted on -the lug 62 extending from the housing 2.

Links pivoted tothe opposite ends of the lever-extend to thesidesof the car and proy vide readily-accessible handles With which the vbleed valve Ymay beopened.

At the inner end -of the ehambena spring. vpressed. check valve 64 is arranged to control the flowof air thru the passage 66, connecting. the chamber-f5l with the conduit 67, which opens into the branch line 68.Y

Air may thus. pass from the train line 69. thru conduit 67, passage 66y and past they valve into thechamber 51, but cannot flow from the chamber. into the passage. They special function :of the checkvalveis to prevent the undesired movementof the piston valve.58 Witha reduction in. train 4linepressure.

Normally thebleed valve parts are as shown in Fig. 3, the. pistonv valve. 5S. covering the passage 52 and tightly seated yon. theiiange 56 to prevent leakage thru. passages 54.v The4 valve 5,8.is normallyheld inthis position by the pressure inthe chamber 51, Whichisuobviously that of the train line. Leakage past thevalve 58 escapesinto passage 52 in Whichthe. pressure is that of the auxiliary reservoir.

When it is desired to bleed thebrakes, one of the links 63 is'pulled out, thus pushing in thepiston valvey and, asshoWn in Fig. 6, uncoveringthepassage 52,.so that the aiinfrom thebrake cylinder may exhaust into the end of the .chamber 51 and escape4 thrupassages 54 into theopen. air. Airfrom the auxiliar-y reservoir also passes the valvel 361 and escapesthru the-same-passage. Since there is no pressure in thel train` line the valve58 yremainsv in. the open position when pushed there by the pull-on the link 63,y and brakeman can therefore pass rapidly along a string of ears, opening .the bleedvalves as he goes. With the opening of the bleed valve the air is soon. exhausted from the brake cylinder and auxiliary reservoir and thefbrakes released. No further attention need be given kthe bleed. valve, the single pull on the link l brake `apparatus comprising a housing formed with a passagefor connecting the tripleyalv'e to the brake cylinder, a check valve in said passage, said housing being orme'dfvvithha yby-pass about saidl fchecl valve,"a valve for controlling `the ilovvy 'of air thru said by-pass, and means for opening said by-pass valve when the; pressure Vin the 'auxiliary yreservoir exceeds. afpredetermined amount. s

2. An automatid retainer vvalve for air brake ,apparatusl comprising a vhousing formed AWith al passage for connecting the triple valvev to the brake cylinder, a vcheck Vvalve in said passage, said housing being formed With a vby-pass about saidcheck valvefal valve for controlling theilow of air thru said ley-pass,I and means operated by auxiliary reservoir air under pressure ex-A ceeding a predetermined minimum 'forap--v plyin said air to open saidiby-pass'valve 3. in automatic retainer valve for air brake apparatus comprisinga housing formed With a passagefi'or' connecting the triple valveto--the 'brake cylinder, a check `valve in said passage," said housing being formed with a by-pass kaboutl said check valve, and means operable by auxiliary res-` ervoir air under pressure` exceeding a pre-- determined 1 minimum for opening said by'- pass and 'byair from' the brakecylinder 'for closing saidby-pass When the pressure in the auxiliary reservoiry falls to said predetermined minimum.

4. lAnautomatic retainer valve lfor air brake apparatus comprising a` housing formed with a passage `for connecting the' triple valve to the brake cylinder, a* check valve in said passage, said housing being formed with a by-pass about said check valve, and a valve for controlling the flow of air thru saidby-pass and movable to close the'bypass by the air therein whenv the pressure inthe auxiliary reservoir falls to a predetermined minimum. l 54An automatic retainer valveforair brake lapparatus comprising formed With a'passage for connecting the triple valve tothe brake cylinder, ja check valve in said passage, `said housing being 'formed With a by-pass about said check valve, a valve for controlling the iloW of air thru said by-pass yand movableto close theV by-pass by the airltherein, and ymeans for valve, a piston valve' for controlling thel a housing iiow o-fair thru said by-p'ass and'inovable by the pressure of the'v air inrtheffby-pa'ss'- 'i against one side thereof` to close the by-pass,

saidhousing being formed With a ypassage for'y connecting the auxiliary reservoir with", Vthe pistonvalve chamber-whereby air from the auxiliary vreservoiropposes the closing movement of 'said pistonv valve, and means for closing said last named passage and per? mitting said opposing air' to exhaust l.when

thepressure in the auxiliary/lieservoir'falls to a predetermined minimum. Y 7. An automatic' retainer valve for al "brake apparatus comprising a housing formed withA a passage fork connecting `the l triple 1 valve lto the 1'brakes cylinder, jav checli" valvein said passage',` said housing being' formed with a by-pass'about said check valve comprising a valve chamber connected into said passage on the Vauxiliary reservoir side of said checky valveiby a large Achannel and connected into said passage on the triple lvalve side of said check valve by a" smaller channel, a pistonk valve in said valve chamber said housing beingformed with a passage for connecting the end of saidv chamber on the side of said piston Valve opposite' to said large channel with said auxiliary reservoir, and means-'for clos? ing said last named passage and permittingl the air in said'- valve n chamber admitted .therethrough to exhaustvvhen the pressure in the auxiliar termined minimum.

Y 8. An automatic'retainer valve for air kbrake apparatus comprising triple valve tothe brakecylinder, a check valve in said passage, said housing being formed with a by-pass about said check valve comprising a valve chamber connected into said passage on the auxiliary reservoir side of said check valve'by a large channel and connected into said passageon the triple valve sideof said check-valve by a smaller channel, a piston valve in said 'valve chamber, said housing being formed lWith ,a passage for connecting ythe end of said chamber on thel side ot said piston valve 4opposite lto said large channel with said auxiliary reservoir, a normallyopen valvein said last named passage, a diaphraginengaging saidnorinally open valve and exposed on one side to the pressure oi'f the auxiliary reservoir, and a spring on the opposite side of said diaphragm for moving it to close said normally vopenl valve when lthe pressure inthe auxiliary reservoir lfalls to a predeterminedminimu,

9. An Uautomatic 'retainer valve forV air brake, apparatus comprising a housing y.formed with a passage for connecting the triple valve to the brake cylinder, a check valve in said passage, said housing being formed with a by-pass about said check a housing formed with a passage ifor connecting the' tov y reservoir allsto a predeu 'i "valve comprising a valve 'chamber 'connected into said passage on the-`auxiliary reservoir side of said check Vvalve by a large channel and connected 'into said passage on thetrile valve side ots'aid check `salve by `a smal er channel, a piston vvalve in `said valve chamber, said housing beingformed with a passage Aonconnecting the end oi said chamber on the side offsaid piston valve opposite tosaid large channel with said auxiliary reservoir, a normally open valve in said last named passage, a ,dia-f phragm engaging's'aid normally open Valve and exposed on one `side to the pressure of the "auxiliary'reservoir7 a 'spring on the opposite side ot said diaphragm 'i'or moving it te close 'said normally open Valve when the pressure in the ai'ixiliary `reser* Voir :tails to a 'predetermined minimum, and means `for Varying the ftension Vv'on Asaid i spring.

yvalve, a valve for controlling 'the How of air through said by-pass and movable to close the by-pass by the pressure of air therein against one side ot the by-pass Valve, said housing being formed with a passage for admitting air from the auxiliary reservoir to the opposite side of said valve and with a Vent passage from said opposite side to the open air, a normally open Valve for controlling the auxiliary reservoir passage, a normally closed valve for controlling the vent passage, a light spring for moving said last named valves to open the auxiliary reservoir passage and close the Vent passage, a heavier spring for moving saidl last named valves ,to close the auxiliary reservoir passage and open the vent passage, and a diaphragm exposed to the auxiliary reservoir pressure opposing the action of said heavier spring.

l1. An automatic` retainer valve, for air brake apparatus comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between the triple valve and the auxiliary reservoir and formed with a passage connecting the triple valve with the auxiliary reservoir and a second passage connecting the triple valve to the brake cylinder pipe, a check valve in said second passage, said housing being formed with a by-pass about said check valve, a Valve for controlling the flow of air through said by-pass, and means for opening said by-pass Valve when the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir exceeds a predetermined amount.

12. An automatic retainer Valve for air brake apparatus comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between the triple a housing "p Vwith 'the' brake cylinder pipe and the triple valve and the y auxiliary reservoir and f'ormedfwith a fpa'ssage connecting the triple valve with the 'auxiliary reservoir and a second passage 4connecting the triple to the V-bra'ke 'cylinder' pipe, a Icheck Valve in' said second passage, said housing formed with a' by-pass about-said check valve, a vali/e 'for controlling the flow o air throughs'aid yley-pass and rmovable 'to lclose the by-pass 'by' Vthe fair therein, said housing being 'formed 'with a passage `for admitting 'air fromthe auxiliary reservoir to the opposite side of saidvalve to oppose saidclosing movement, and means for closy ing said last vnamed passage and `permitting said opposing Vair lto exhaust when the pres- `sure in ltheauxiliary reservoir falls "to a predetermined minimum,

13. A lpr'essurec'ontrol valve -i'or air brake appar'atus,comprising a housing-adapted to "be interposed between vfthe auxiliary reser- Voir and :thetripleyalve and formed 'with essa-ges. 'for connecting 4the 'triple valve valve with -the auxiliary reservoir, means linf'sa'idhousing'for closing one of said passages against the Ireturniiow olif-'air from the brake cylinder to the t'rip'le valveyand means vvinsaid'housing operative by theair inthe auxiliary reservoir `whenf'the"pressure thereinV4 exceeds a predetermined amount for opening the closed passage.

la. A pressu're control valve for air brake apparatus, comprising a housing adapt-ed to be interposed between the auxiliary reservoir and the triple valve and formed with passages for connecting the triple valve with the brake cylinder pipe and the triple Valve With the auxiliary reservoir, and means comprising an automatically operated retaining valve arranged in said housing.

15. A pressure control valve 'for air brake apparatus, comprising a housing adapted tobe interposed between the auxiliary lreser- Voir and the triple Valve and formed with passages for connecting the triple Valve with the brake cylinder pipe and the triple valve with the auxiliary reservoir, means comprising a 'retaining valve automatically operated when the auxiliary reservoir pressure falls to a predetermined amount arranged in said housing, and means comprising an automatically closed bleed valve arranged in said housing.

16, A pressure control valve for air brake appara-tus comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between the triple valve and the auxiliary reservoir and formed with a passage connecting the triple valve with the auxiliary reservoir and a second passage connecting the triple valve to the brake cylinder pipe, a check valve in said second passage, said housing being Jformed with a bypass about said check valve, a valve o'r controlling the ow of air thru said ley-pass,

valve i being me'ans for opening said by-.pass valve when the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir vexceeds a predetermined amount, Aand a bleed valve arranged in said housing and connected into said second passagebetween said checkvalve and said brake` cylinder pipe.

17. A pressure control valve for air brake apparatus comprising a housing adapted to i vbe .interposed between thel triple valve and the auxiliary reservoir and formed withv a passage connecting the triple valve with the v auxiliary reservoir and a second `passage connecting the triple valve to, the brakey cylinder' pipe, al check valve in said second passage, said housing vbeing vformed with a bypass about said checkl valve,A a; valve for controlling the flow of air thru said by-pass,

means for opening said by-pass valve when` thepressure in the auxiliary reservoir exceeds a predetermined amount, said housing .being formed with ar bleed valve vchamber k'and an` exhaust passage Iconnecting said chambervwith said second passage between said check valve and said brakegcylinder pipe, a vent passage for said chamber, means connectingthe chamber with the vtrain line,

a. check valve for'controlling' ythe low of train line air thru lsaid means, a valve in said chamber movable by said train line air to cover said exhaust passage, and manually operated means for movingsaid, chamber valve to uncover said exhaust passage and said vent, passage.

18. A pressure control valve Jfor air brake apparatus, comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between the auxiliary reser-v voirand'the triple valve and formed with passages for connecting'the triple valve with the brake cylinder pipeand the triple valve with the auxiliary reservoir, and a retain ing valveA and a bleed valve arranged insaid housin 19. n automatic retainer valve fory air brake apparatus comprising a normally open valve forvcontrolling the `flow of air from theI brake cylinder, and means controlled by the air under pressure in the auxreservoir for permitting the closing iliary of said valve. ,v

20. An automatic, retainer valve forair 'brake apparatus comprising a valve forcen- In testimony whereof I have-hereunto set.r

my hand.y p

THOMAS J. STEIVNKELLER- 

